Creating A CV

At Gardner Llewelyn we are here to help, we are happy to assist you with compiling and writing your CV, and can create one for you if you do not already have one, but here are some tips which can help get you started.

Presentation

Go for space (the white space on the CV can be used very effectively)

Avoid italics and decorative fonts. Use a clear typeface, font size and use descriptive headings

Try to keep your CV to no more than two pages

Structure

Avoid long paragraphs. Use short sentences and bullet points to keep it simple and concise

Allocate space according to the importance of the information. Your degree should receive more coverage than your A levels. GCSEs should be summarised

Start with your recent careers experience (usually most relevant) and work backwards. Focus on the most important and relevant aspects and emphasise them. Make sure that particularly relevant information is not hidden in the middle of a paragraph or consigned to page two

Keep all relevant information together on one page eg. all education on page one / all work experience page two depending on their importance to the application

Use active verbs to describe your experience, ie. "this project involved coordinating the work of four people"; "this job involved liasing with customers" or "this position involved leading a small team of volunteers"

Leave your hobbies and interests until last – and keep this section short